Dr. Pat’s GardenBox: Dirt Under My Fingernails and Other Gardening Woes

Got the kids involved in gardening yet? Start with the right tools for the little ones, and stay ahead of these gardening pitfalls with a little planning.

Sun. The sun may be good for plants, but not for your hair. Wear a hat with a brim, especially if you color your hair, or you may discover highlights you wish you didn’t have. The “apprentice gardeners” will look especially cute in their garden hats!

More Sun. A sunburn is no fun either, so don’t forget the Noodle and Boo Play-Day. This is the one sunscreen for the whole family; it is light, nearly unscented and moisturizes too.

Bee stings. Skip the perfume and the bees will seek out the flowers, not you.

Dirty fingernails. Here is where you and the little ones have different agendas. They will love digging in the dirt with bare hands, but of course that is part of the appeal! Apply Noodle and Boo’s Ultimate Ointment generously to little hands before you go out and those hands will clean up easily with soap and water later. I use ointment first even when using garden gloves, so I don’t go to work looking like I spent the weekend digging in the dirt (even if I did!).

Muddy shoes. I love my garden clogs, and not just so I don’t worry about tracking mud into the house. They also look and feel great!

And finally, take time while you are out there to enjoy the warmth of the sun, the smell of the flowers, and the buzz of the honey makers. It’s fun to be a gardener!

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